Retro Transgendered Girl

I get one question the most, especially from civilians who are new to the transgendered culture: "When did you first feel the need to do this?" (Their words not mine.)
For awhile I had sort of an autobiography on one of the blog pages about my life and how similar it probably is to many of yours.
I say similar because it if wasn't for a little twist or turn here or there we could all be in the same place. If by chance you are a fully changed transsexual, I've seriously considered that route more than once and could be in your shoes.  You could be more of a weekend crossdresser who could be more like me with the proper opportunity.  But that is not what I'm writing about here.
I believe many single gendered individuals think we transgendered folks had this great blinding realization of "hey! I want to be another gender!"
For one, I can say it wasn't like that with me. I can safely say I was between the ages of 10 and 12 when I had this growing suspicion that something wasn't right. I had a real fascination with the female gender but somehow, someway it just took a twist with me. Many years passed before I finally realized my fascination with women wasn't so much sexual. I wanted to be them.
I do remember as clear as day when I made up an excuse to dress in the few girl clothes I could buy with my paper route money and appear in front of some of my pre teen friends-makeup mini skirt hose and all. My quick introduction as a girl was quick and did embarass them more than me but somehow I never heard much more about it from them. I do know I wanted so much for them to like the way I looked.
We lived in a very rural area and one of my "get aways" happened to be the woods behind our house. I would abuse my Mom's electric shaver and kept smooth legs most of the time. I would sneak out past my brother ( a couple years younger) and actually go to this special place I picked just to feel the wonderful caress of nylons, bras and dresses.
One important question I don't have the answer to is how I kept my legs shaved as much as I did. I was a very athletic kid and played three sports. I just don't know.
The person I feel the most sorry for during this time of my life was my brother. I was always sneaking behind his back barricading myself in the bathroom experimenting with makeup. Of course he did catch me on occasion and that's another story.
On the rare occasion I was home alone we had a long hallway in the house that for some reason had a full lenght mirror on it which was a transgendered kids best friend! The slow trip down the hall admiring myself in the mirror was heavenly!
So that was the beginning of the journey which brought me here to all of you today.
As I have said many times all of this occurred way before the Internet.  For years I was certain I was the only one who felt this way.
Of course as my life progressed I know now of the sign posts which directed me here.
In future posts I will try to take you there!